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The Cult of Information

By
Michael Gorsuch
on May 9, 2008 TrackBacks (0) Comments (3)
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I finished Theodore Roszak's The Cult of Information a few weeks back and am just now writing my notes.  I boil the premise down to this: man needs to stop believing in (and therefore worshiping) the superiority of the computer.  True, the machine can perform programmed tasks at a much higher rate than any man - yet this is not intelligence.  The author also rallies against the use of computers in the public school system, as they are being put there for the wrong reasons.  

This second edition was published in the early nineties, which was well before the mass adoption of the Internet.  That being said, and noting that I work in the industry, I believe the author makes excellent points that still apply today.  

Despite what seems to be popular opinion, I do not believe that the computer is not smarter than you or I.  Faster, yes, but not more intelligent.  It is not self-aware, and it is arguably far from ever becoming so.  I also support Roszak's statements about computers in the school system and believe that they are generally a bad thing.  They (in a general sense, of course) do not teach us to  think any better, and I would firmly support any decision to purge them from the school system along with increasing the pay of the teaching staff.  I argue that the mass infiltration of computing systems into public schools has occurred out of fear.  No one wants to 'leave the children behind', just as a politician does not want to be painted as 'weak on terrorism'.

In today's information-saturated world, I highly recommend a healthy dose of Roszak for the sake of tempering our addiction.  I look forward to reading some of the authors other work.  

A Short Review of Green Hermeticism

By
Michael Gorsuch
on April 26, 2008 TrackBacks (0) Comments (0)
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For starters, Hermeticism is an old and evolving spiritual movement that focuses on the experiential exploration of man's (the microcosm) relationship to existence (the macrocosm).  The three pillars of the Renaissance-era incarnation of this tradition are alchemy, astrology, and theurgy; all of which appear to be quite different than their mainstream pop-spiritual equivalents.

I have been interested in the philosophy for over ten years, as it reminds me very much of the experiential traditions of the East (Hinduism and Buddhism), but with the proper slant for someone embedded in Western culture.  Certain aspects of the discipline have even been labeled as 'a Yoga for the West'.  The phrase 'experiential' should be emphasized again and again, as the practice demands work, attention, and validation from the student.  The burden of responsibility is placed in the hands of the neophyte, not in those of the clergy.  Nothing is expected to be taken on faith.

Unlike the Eastern mystery traditions, Hermeticism does not get a lot of attention.  If you walked down the street and asked ten strangers, you'd find that they all have some idea of Buddhism but you'd be lucky if one has heard of Hermeticism.  The authors of this book have set out to revive the spiritual approach, and to show the reader how relevant it is to today's gloomy ecological condition.

There are five chapters, the first four are by different authors and covering various topics.  They are disparate by intent, and a few of them are quite radical and well worth the read if only to force you to step outside of your normal model of life and its problems.  If man's world view defined micro and macrocosm as one in the same, wouldn't he be more inclined to be a better shepherd?  The fifth chapter was a short and concise set of instructions to basic spagyrics, or plant alchemy.  After reading the preceding essays, I have no problem admitting that I am attracted to the idea.  For those that are searching for a spiritual approach the is allegedly verifiable by physical evidence, this might be an answer.    

In the end, if you aren't afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, give the book a read.  If there is anything that this book is truly lacking, it is only a final page offering advice as to where the read might go to gain more information on this subject.

A Micro-Review of Neil Gaiman's American Gods

By
Michael Gorsuch
on April 14, 2008 TrackBacks (0) Comments (0)

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I was prompted by Paul Beard to give Neil Gaiman's piece American Gods a fair chance. I read Neverwhere some time ago, and while I found his story interesting, I did not feel the emotional tug that I expect out of good literature. It was a nice distraction, but not the experience I was looking for. Thankfully, my time with American Gods was different.

Gaimon begins by introducing us to the protagonist Shadow, who is serving the last day of his three year term in prison. While he does possess a corny name and has a record of assault, he is the kind of character that the reader immediately starts to like. Sadly, just before leaving the joint, he learns that his wife and best friend died in a car accident.

On his way to sort her things out, Shadow meets a self-styled rogue who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. He offers Shadow a job, and having nothing better, he accepts. Things change here, as our hero begins to see the world as it exists backstage.

Little did he realize that the old gods and various mythological creatures roam the American landscape. A storm was coming, as Americans tend to be fickle and flighty with their beliefs, and the gods of the old country were ready to depose our modern ones (television, Wall Street, etc).

If you're looking for something different, put this in your queue. I'm glad that I did.

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